Donyale Canada joined the conference staff in August of 2006 as Director of Sports Services. Canada is responsible for the administration and championships for several of C-USA's 19 sports, including women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field and men's tennis.

Canada previously spent three years at the Ohio Valley Conference as the Assistant Commissioner for Championships and Senior Woman Administrator. She oversaw the event management of 18 OVC championships and assisted with the administration and marketing of the OVC Baseball and Basketball Tournaments. She also served as the staff liaison to a number of coaches groups and the officiating coordinators.

A member of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Issues Committee, she served as the NCAA Staff Representative at the 2006 NCAA Women's Basketball First and Second Rounds as well as serving as a site representative for the 2006 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship's preliminary rounds . She was also the Assistant Tournament Manager for the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball First and Second Rounds in Nashville.

A native of Texas, Canada earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology, with a specialization in sport management, from Texas A&M University in 1997. While in College Station, she was a full scholarship member of the Aggie women's basketball and track & field squads. In 1994, her women's basketball team advanced to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" and she was an Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field NCAA qualifier in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Canada is a 2007 Graduate of the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Females.